County takes no action on campgrounds

By Scott Aust, Journal staff | Wednesday, May 09, 2007

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RAPID CITY - After hearing from both sides of the debate over proposed improvements to the Custer State Park campgrounds, the Pennington County Commission on Tuesday took no action in support of either side.

Last week the commission had discussed a resolution of support for private campgrounds. The commission didn't pursue that Tuesday, but Commissioner Gale Holbrook said the county might decide later to send a letter detailing its concerns to the state.

"There's really not a lot we can do. Certainly, I'm not opposed to improvements at the state park but on an equal basis," he said. "Make the playing field somewhat level, somehow."

Private campground owners oppose a plan to extend electricity to 300 of 357 campsites in the state park and to add 50 rustic cabins, because it would put the park's campgrounds into direct competition with the private sector.

Last month, the county's board of equalization turned down requests from private campground owners to reduce taxes in anticipation of a downturn in business in the future after planned improvements in the state park are completed.

Commissioner Brenda Young asked why the county should get involved.

"This board has no jurisdiction over what Game, Fish & Parks does, and we have no jurisdiction over private enterprise. If there's an issue here, maybe private campgrounds need to go to GF&P to see if they can get some sort of compromise or adjustments," she said.

Richard Miller, superintendent of Custer State Park, said electricity has become a demand of park visitors and is the largest single complaint from campers.

"We are no longer strictly a primitive tent camper," Miller said. "A large percentage, 75 percent or more, of our visitors come in some kind of a hard-sided camper. They are asking why you don't have electricity."

Miller said the goal of electrification is not to increase occupancy in the state park's campgrounds. He said the park's campsites already have 95 percent or better occupancy, and those who want electricity use generators.

If more state residents come to the park's campgrounds after electricity is provided, they will displace some of the out-of-state campers who then will go to private campgrounds when the park is full, Miller said.

"If we do attract more people, everybody will benefit," he said.

Al Johnson, executive vice president of Recreation Adventures Co., which owns two KOA campgrounds in Pennington County, said Custer State Park is incredibly important to the tourism economy of the Black Hills but the proposed park improvements impact the business opportunities and investments of private campgrounds.

Johnson said elected officials could help push the state for a feasibility study to look at the economic impact, or a long-term plan.

"It's easy for the state to say: 'We think this is going to float all boats. It's going to be good for everybody.' That's a little bit fatuous when it's our livelihood at stake to rely on that," he said. "Maybe the state is afraid of a study because they think it won't support what they're trying to say."

Holbrook said the county may offer its opinion at some point but for now he thinks the state GF&P commission and private campground owners need to find some common ground on the issue.

Contact Scott Aust at 394-8415 or scott.aust@rapidcityjournal.com